Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, one more than Mark Spitz's seven in 1972. He set a world record in seven of the events and an Olympic record in the other.

The record is for a single Games. His career total is a separate record.

Context

At the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps won gold in the 200 m, 400 m individual medley, 100 m and 200 m butterfly, 200 m freestyle, and in three relays. Spitz had won seven golds in 1972, and for 36 years that was considered nearly untouchable. Phelps took eight golds over eight days of competition, and the last was in the 4x100 m medley relay.

One win was decided by the narrowest margin possible. In the 100 m butterfly, Phelps touched the wall just 0.01 seconds ahead of Milorad Cavic of Serbia, and a photo finish and timing records confirmed the result after Serbia lodged a protest, which was rejected. That race is often cited as the closest of his career.

Spitz's total of seven golds in 1972 also came with world records in each event. Phelps's eight golds were won with world records in seven of the events and an Olympic record in the eighth, according to contemporary reports. The achievement counts as a single-Games record, separate from his overall career medal haul.